Wednesday, 23 November 2011

The 'Largest Indian Restaurant in the World' is the boast of Cleckheaton'sAakash Restaurant in. In a similar way to Omars 'Biggest Naans in Yorkshire' boast, it makes me wonder why size is becoming a measure of quality?

Aakash's cavernous interior

Anyway, the offer to join some Bradford Curry Club members on a swift early Sunday evening buffet to Aakash, was too much to resist, so off we trotted. With a less than patient Izzy in tow, however, managing to study all aspects of the Aakash experience was simply beyond me, and chasing Izzy around its vastness was more the order of the day. Therefore, this post is to merely jot some impressions and initial thoughts down.

Standard Buffet Fare

Suffice to say, Aakash seems to offer a top quality buffet experience, and the popularity of the restaurant speaks for this. On the flip side, queues did form at the buffet, and we did find timing visits for food became more of a focus throughout the evening. The food, was all good, but did perhaps have that MOR feel to it - ideal for a buffet, where catering far all tastes is paramount.

This curry loving family spent more time chasing their
beautiful little daughter around than eating curry

I need to visit again with my proper Bradford Curry Blogger head on really.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

34-38 Bradford Road

Shipley

West Yorkshire

BD18 3NT

Time

11th November 2011 @ ~20:30

Attendees

Jaz, Lynda, Francois and John (me)

Pre-Curry
Watering Holes

Fanny's is a Shipley institution

Not really
knowing Shipley that well for drinking, we headed straight to Saltaire. Leaving the train,
on what was a dank drizzly night, made the partially cobbled terraced streets
of Saltaire, with the Mill looming through the dark, very atmospheric for first
time visitor to Bradford Francois.

First port
of call was Don’t Tell Titus, a modern bar come restaurant just up from the
train station. It was a trendy noisy
kind of place but was pleasant enough to spend just enough time to neck a
bottle of wine. Next was the legendary
Fanny’s Ale House. Fanny’s is a very
characterful boozer on Saltaire
Road, offering all manner of specialist and local
brews. It was heaving with standing room
only, but is well worth a visit if in the area.
Finally was Ring O Bells, just across the road from Zaara’s, and is your
standard kind of pub really. There’s nothing
wrong with that but nothing much to say either.

Expectations

Zaara’s is
in the Michelin Guide – not starred or anything, but it’s in there all the same
– resulting in my high expectations.
However, coming down to earth, I understand that you simply pay to be
included in the guide, so I guess it’s not that special? But it’s not often I get to use the words
‘Michelin’ and ‘restaurant’ in the same sentence, so it felt pretty special to
me.

The Reality

Zaara’a,
like so many modern curry houses in and around Bradford, and probably the
country, is a trendy establishment, which has dispensed with the traditional, outdated and clichéd flock wall paper and velvet chairs etc in favor of faux leather and
dark wood. Very swish it all looked too.

Following on
from poppadoms and pickles, my starter of Paneer Tikka was wonderful and served
on a bed of sizzling onions. The herbs
and spices encrusted to the outside of the paneer attacked every taste bud in
my mouth with gusto.

Mixed Karahi

For main, my
requested ‘hot’ Mixed Karahi (lamb and chicken) arrived perfectly spiced for my
taste, and supplied the warm glow in the mouth sensation that a good curry
should. Not blow your head off hot - but
just enough to let you know that he’s there.
All the curries ordered could be chosen at different heat levels - but
on this occasion no-one dared the ‘Asian Strength’. Flavour wise my Karahi – which is fast
becoming my Bradford Curry of choice – was all there too, and left me wanting
more. Although slightly lacking in the
lamb element of its Mixed tag, it provided plenty of chicken in a sumptuous (not
oily) gravy, with the addition of a slightly deconstructed element to the dish
in the form of fresh toms and herbs.

The
accompaniment of Garlic Naan was ‘a Garlic Naan’ - we’ve all been there – so
won’t bore you with detail. It didn’t
last long though I can tell you.

The whole
lot was polished off with no problems.

Drinks Policy and range

Zarra’s is
licensed with a full wine and beer list.
Bottles Cobra are available - but no Kingfisher, or other curry
associated beers seem to be available.

Highlights

Paneer Tikka

Although all
was very nice, and I enjoyed every aspect of my meal, I really rated the Paneer
Tikka. Credit has to go the Zaara chef for
his quality blend of herbs and spices, which transformed, what I guess is an
essentially pretty bland cottage cheese, to the dizzying heights of mouthwatering
status.

Lowlights

There were absolutely
none. My personal preference is to be
presented with poppadoms and pickles when seated, or with the drinks, which
didn’t happen at Zaara’s. However, I
totally understand that it isn’t what everyone wants. Therefore, it’s not a criticism, just an
observation.

The Damage

Very
reasonable at £16.25pp including drinks (at least two bottles of beer each) I
think? So about £10pp for starter, main
and sundry!! Rock on!! That sounds cheap so will confirm.

Aftershock

The
obligatory headache followed in the morning, but that was from other ‘sauces’.

Overall

I was more
than happy with my Zaara experience. It
was very nice in every aspect.